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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has given Jorginho’s move to Chelsea his blessing, insisting it would have been a ‘mistake’ had the midfielder signed for his side.

Jorginho, 26, was widely expected to arrive at the Etihad Stadium this summer having agreed personal terms with the Premier League champions.

Instead, the Italy international followed new Blues head coach Maurizio Sarri from Napoli to Stamford Bridge, becoming the club’s first signing of the summer transfer window.

Speaking ahead of City’s International Champions Cup clash with Borussia Dortmund, Guardiola spoke on his side’s failure to sign Jorginho for the first time.

Pep Guardiola missed out on Jorginho (Picture: Getty)

Amid suggestions that the midfielder was desperate to continue playing under Sarri, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss believes his side will benefit more from pursuing targets who only want to play for City.

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‘No, we are not disappointed,’ Guardiola said. ‘We tried, we thought already it was done.

‘My advice is for players to go where they want to go. It would have been a mistake if he had come here when he wanted to go to Maurizio and Chelsea.

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(Picture: Getty)

Jorginho decided to join Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

‘English football received an exceptional player at the end. If they don’t want to come it is better they don’t come. All the best for him.’

City are still on the hunt for another midfielder and remain linked with Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic, who has signalled his intention to leave the Spanish capital this summer.

However, Metro.co.uk understands the champions are also interested in signing Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara. The Spain international, brought to the Allianz Arena by Guardiola in 2013, is believed to be keen on a return to Barcelona but City are ready to intervene.